Tubular framing system

ABSTRACT

A versatile framing system incorporates open channel members and closed tubular members. The closed tubular members provide strength, while the open channel member allows various members to be attached at an infinite number of positions along its length. The inventive system thus successfully incorporates the advantages of both open channel members and closed tubular members.

This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/876,248filed on Apr. 30, 1992 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,479.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a framing system which incorporates bothclosed tubular frame members and open channel members into a singleversatile system.

In the prior art, framing systems have typically used earlier closedtubular members which have bolt holes for attachment to other members,allowing incremental adjustment, or open channel members which allowinfinite adjustment within the channel for attachment of variousmembers. The prior art has not successfully incorporated closed tubularmembers with open channel members. The prior art has also not beensuccessful in attaching open channel members to closed tubular membersor other supports, without the use of numerous attachment members.

Closed tubular members are advantageous in that they are stronger thanopen channel members. Open channel members, however, allow infiniteadjustment of the position at which various members are attached.Further, open channel members have typically not been used with throughbolt connections, which are used with closed tubular members and providea strong mount. It would be desirable to gain the benefits of both typesof members. The present invention has developed a system which allowsthe two types of framing members to be utilized in combination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A disclosed system according to the present invention includes closedtubular members having a rectangular cross-section with four closedsides and a central bore. The closed tubular members are attached toopen channel members. The open channel members have ail outer peripheralsurface which is received within the bore of the closed tubular member.The open channel member preferably has at least one side which defines achannel for receiving an attachment member such as a bolt. In a furtherpreferred embodiment of the present invention, a smaller sized closedtubular member may also be received within the bore in the larger, firstmentioned closed tubular member. The larger closed tubular member canthen be used as a joint to attach open channel member sections to thesmaller closed tubular member sections. This results in a strongconnection, without complicated attachment members.

In a further feature of the present invention, the various framingmembers have bolt holes extending through their closed sides which arespaced by equivalent amounts. Thus, bolts can be extended through matingbolt holes to allow for incremental adjustment of the relative positionsof the larger closed tubular member, the smaller closed tubular member,and of the open channel members.

Various attachment members are disclosed to result in any one of severalconfigurations of final systems. Further, a rivet can be extendedthrough the bolt holes such that the framing members can be attachedeasily and quickly. Only a simple tool such as a hammer is necessary.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understoodfrom the following specification and drawings, of which the following isa brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a number of possible connections betweenthe various framing members of the inventive system.

FIG. 2 is a highly schematic view showing one application of theinventive system.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing other applications of the inventivesystem.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an alternative fastener memberaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the components of the alternativefastener.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the initial positioning of thealternative fastener member.

FIG. 7 shows a step subsequent to that shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An inventive framing system 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1 incorporating alarge closed tubular member 22, which is rectangular. Large closedtubular member 22 has four closed sides, defining an inner peripheralbore 23 which is greater in dimension than the outer dimensions of asmaller closed tubular member 24. Small closed tubular member 24 may beattached to one end of large closed tubular member 22, while an openchannel member 26 may be attached to the other end of large closedtubular member 22.

As shown, open channel member 26 incorporates two lips 27 extendinglaterally inwardly to define a channel 28. Channel 28 may receive a boltto attach a support member, or a member to be supported, to open channelmember 26. The location of the bolt within channel 28 is infinitelyadjustable such that the location of the support/supported member isalso infinitely adjustable. The basic bolt and channel configurationsare well known in the art.

As also shown, a bolt 30 can extend through mating bolt holes 32 inlarge and small closed tubular members 22 and 24 to secure the two atany one of several incremental positions. The bolt holes 32 on the smallclosed tubular member 24 are preferably spaced by a distanceapproximately equal to the distance between bolt holes 32 on the largeclosed tubular member 22. Further, bolt holes 32 may also be formed inclosed sides of open channel member 26. Again, the spacing between boltholes 32 in open channel 26 is preferably approximately equal to thespacing between the bolt holes 32 in closed tubular members 22 and 24.Thus, a member such as large closed tubular member 22 can act as abridge or sleeve to connect open channel member 26 to small closedtubular member 24. Small closed tubular member 24 may be stronger thanopen channel member 26. Open channel member 26, however, allowssupport/supported members to be attached in an infinite number ofpositions, thus increasing the flexibility of the overall system.

As shown to the lower right portion of FIG. 1, a bolt 36 can passthrough a bolt hole 32 in a large closed channel member 22, and bereceived in a second type of open channel member 29. Second open channelmember 29 includes two lips 37 extending laterally inwardly at upper andlower positions to define channels 38 at both upper and lower positions.Bolt 36 is frictionally secured within channel 38 at the upper position,as is well known. A member to be supported by channel 29 can then bepositioned at any of an infinite number of positions from the lowerchannel 38. The use of the large closed tubular member 22 allows asecure connection between second open channel member 29 and a supportstructure. As previously discussed, a bolt 40 can also pass through boltopening 32 in large closed channel member 22 and be received within boltholes 32 in open channel member 26, as shown in the lower left portionof FIG. 1. This provides a fixed, secure connection between tubularmember 22 and channel 26 at incremental positions.

As shown in the upper right portion of FIG. 1, a framing elbow 50 mayhave bolts 52 extending into bolt holes 32 in one framing member, smallclosed channel member 24 being shown. Bolts 54 may also extend intochannel 28 on a open channel member 26. In this way, it is relativelyeasy to define a strong 90° connection between an open channel member 26and a closed tubular member 24.

Simple elbows 58 are also shown with bolts 60 extending into bolt holes32 in both open and closed tubular members. Further, a cross attachment62 having bolts 64 may extend into bolt holes 32, and channels 28 tosecure several framing members of the inventive system 20. Finally,member 66 may receive bolt 68 which attach three framing memberstogether simply and quickly.

It should be understood that FIG. 1 is an imaginary view developed toshow some possibilities of system 20. The main features of the presentinvention relate to its versatility, rather than any particularconfiguration.

As shown in FIG. 2, a small closed tubular member 24 can extend througha great distance, such as along a ceiling in an industrial environment.A large closed tubular member 22 can bridge a connection between smallclosed tubular member 24 and an open channel member, such as openchannel member 29. Large closed tubular member 22 thus provides a sleeveto securely connect small closed tubular portions 24 to open channelmember 29. The connection is simple and strong. A member 70 may now behung f rom open channel member 29 at any of an infinite number ofpositions along the length of channel 29. Thus, system 20 provides astrong simple system which allows infinite adjustment in areas wheremembers are to be attached.

FIG. 3 shows another configuration of system 20. Here system 20 has beenconfigured into a shelving unit 72. As shown, cross sides are configuredof small closed tubular members 24 while side uprights are formed ofopen channel members 26. The cross members are formed of two smallclosed tubular members 24 with a large closed tubular member section 22acting as a sleeve between the two smaller closed tubular membersections 24. In this way, the overall length of the shelving unit 72 canbe incrementally adjusted by telescopically adjusting the members. Asfurther shown, the height of the cross members formed of the closedtubular members 24 can be infinitely adjusted within channel 28 in openchannel members 26. Thus, the inventive system 20 provides a strongshelving system which may be easily reconfigured into any shape or size.

The use of the large closed tubular member 22 as a sleeve increases theload carrying capacity. Further, the time in setting up these systems isrelatively small over comparable systems.

The above-disclosed structures are not meant to be limiting. The presentinvention can be utilized in any number of configurations. Asnon-limiting examples, racks, shelvings, trapeze hangers, cable traysupports, equipment stands, boat stands, seismic supports, truck racks,structural mezzanine supports, adjustable pipe supports, lightingsupports, jack stands, cable racks, conveyor stands and other usesreadily are envisioned. The inventive features of this invention extendmore towards the versatility that flows from the inventive system whichallows open channel members to be readily attached to closed tubularmembers.

In one preferred embodiment, the small closed tubular members and theopen channel members had 1 5/8 by 1 5/8 outer peripheries. The largeclosed tubular member had a 1 7/8 by 1 7/8 outer periphery. All of thetubular members were manufactured from 12 gauge (0.105 wall thickness)low carbon strip steel. Bolt holes 32 were preferably 9/16" in diameter,and spaced by 1 7/8".

An alternative fastener to replace bolts as utilized in theabove-described structures is illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 7. As shownin FIG. 4, a rivet 78 includes a sleeve 79 and a pin 80. Pin 80 forcesears 82 on sleeve 79 outwardly to secure rivet 78 in a bolt hole 32. Asshown, this attaches a member such as plate member 76 to a closedtubular member 24. As should be understood, rivet 78 can also be usedthrough bolt holes in aligned framing members. As shown in FIG. 5, pin80 is separate from sleeve 79 and ears 82.

As shown in FIG. 6, pin 80 is initially received outwardly of sleeve 79,and ears 82 are initially bent radially inwardly. In this way, ears 82can move into bolt holes 32 in both plate 76 and closed tubular member24.

As shown in FIG. 7, pin 80 is forced downwardly into sleeve 79 and ears82 bend radially outwardly. This locks rivet 78 within bolt hole 32,securing plate 76 to closed tubular member 24.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize thatcertain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. Forthat reason the following claims should be studied in order to determinethe true scope and content of this invention.

I claim:
 1. A framing system comprising:a closed tubular member having agenerally polygonal cross-section with closed sides along the majorityof its length defining a bore, said closed tubular member having aplurality of holes formed through at least two of the spaced sides, saidholes spaced incrementally along said closed tubular member; and an openchannel member received within said closed tubular member and having apolygonal cross-section with closed sides along the majority of itslength and at least one open side along the majority of its lengthdefining a channel to receive an infinitely adjustable securementmember, said open channel member having a plurality of holes formedthrough at least two of the spaced sides, said holes spacedincrementally along said open channel member, wherein the incrementalspacing between said holes in said open channel member is equal to thespacing of said holes in said closed tubular member.
 2. A framing systemas recited in claim 1, wherein the spacing between said holes of saidclosed tubular member and said open channel member is approximatelyequal to 1 7/8 inches.